In other tour news, the annual "H.O.R.D.E." excursion wrapped up in Miami last Sunday, but it lives on -- after a fashion -- in the backstage Hi-8 footage we asked Primus leader Les Claypool to shoot for us. Claypool managed to bother most of his fellow tour-mate, from headliners Neil Young and Crazy Horse to Beck, Morphine, Cake Like, and Ben Folds Five. Here's the whole, unvarnished truth.
LES CLAYPOOL, Primus: Hi, I'm Les Claypool from Primus, and why I have the camera on H.O.R.D.E., I have no idea.
TOUR MANAGER: No video backstage. Do you have a photo pass?
CLAYPOOL: Photo pass...
TOUR MANAGER: Do I know you?
CLAYPOOL: Nope, I am a renegade journalist.
TOUR MANAGER: Can we get security over here, please?
CLAYPOOL (holding up a hackey sack): This is what defines H.O.R.D.E. This is what separates H.O.R.D.E. from the Ozz-fest. I think the "h" in H.O.R.D.E. has something to do with hackey sack.
I did actually find out what H.O.R.D.E. stands for: "Horizons Of something of something."
WOMAN working at booth: It stands for "Horizons Of Rock Developing Everywhere."
CLAYPOOL, (to a little girl): Hey you. (Girl looks at him, becomes visibly frightened and fidgets nervously.) You having a good time?
LITTLE GIRL: Wahheeeeeehhaa!!!! (She runs away screaming and crying.) [1.2MB QuickTime]
CLAYPOOL, (on board Morphine's tour bus): Just try and act casual, don't be intimidated by the camera.
What's up, man?
MARK SANDMAN, Morphine: How are you?
CLAYPOOL: I'm here to invade your space.
SANDMAN: You're doing a good job. You've penetrated all our security.
KERRI KANNEY, Cake Like: Morphine shmorphine, that Les Claypool has a way with the bass!
CLAYPOOL: You're a good looking horse, my friend...
JUSTIN MELDAL-JOHNSON, a.k.a Snowboat, Beck's bassist (who wore a horse mask during their performance): Thank you. You want to look inside? There's a little residue inside... horsey residue.
CLAYPOOL: Residue... (He peers into the sweaty mask.)
NEIL YOUNG: Hey, Les, what's happening?
CLAYPOOL: How's H.O.R.D.E. treating you?
YOUNG: Great, I love H.O.R.D.E., even though they're f*cking with us today, by making us going on a half hour early because we stayed on for 7 lousy minutes overtime.
CLAYPOOL (turns the camera to himself): Bastards!
YOUNG and CLAYPOOL (their faces in the camera): Bastards!
CLAYPOOL: That's the word of the day.
YOUNG: Les, we're with you.
CLAYPOOL (to Ben Folds after his band's final H.O.R.D.E. performance): That's it for you and the H.O.R.D.E., eh?
BEN FOLDS: Yeah, that's it. We quit.
CLAYPOOL: I want to give you a hug, Ben. (They hug, with Claypool still holding the camera awkwardly.)
BEN FOLDS: That's cool! [1.1MB QuickTime]
CLAYPOOL (facing the camera): Adios, to you all. (He turns it off).
The H.O.R.D.E. story by budding videographer Les Claypool.
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